:TITLE:Adding/Editing a Release
:INC:index
:SUB:When to add a release
A 'release' is a product - either physical or digital - containing (parts of) the
visual novel. This excludes soundtracks, drama CDs, fandisks, and other products
that do not contain the visual novel itself.
All releases should be added seperately. For example, a limited and a regular edition
shouldn't be combined into one release, even if they share the release date and
contents. For commercial games, separate releases can be distinguished by their
JAN/UPC/EAN number.
:SUB:General info
- Type
-
Is the release complete, partial or a trial version?
Complete releases have everything.
Partial releases have most of the game, but there are things still waiting
to be released.
Trial versions are heavily cut down and free releases so that you can
experience a game before you buy it. Sometimes, trial versions are cut
down for web transmission and do not completely represent the finished product.
In the case of a translation patch, the type should indicate whether it translates
the full game (Complete), or just parts of it (Partial).
- Patch
-
Use this checkbox to indicate that the release is a (translation) patch, used to
patch an other release.
- Freeware
-
Check if this box if the game is downloadable (or otherwise distributed) at no cost.
- Doujin
-
Published by a doujin circle, amateur group or individual, as opposed to a legal
entity such as a company. This field is ignored when the release type is set to patch.
- Title (romaji)
-
The name of the release, in the Latin character set (using Romanisation or translation)
- Original title
-
If the name is officially under a different title (usually because of different
character sets), put the original title here.
- Language
-
What language is this release? Use the language that the majority of the game is in.
- JAN/UPC/EAN
-
The GTIN code
of the product. Often called "JAN" for Japanese releases, "UPC" for USA and Canada
and "EAN" for Europe. The system will automatically detect the type from the code and
use the appropriate term on the release page.
- Catalog number
-
Catalog number as assigned by the producer. Often used to identify releases on
webshops, and can usually be found somewhere on the packaging of the product.
- Official website
-
URL of the official homepage for this product.
- Release date
-
For commercial games, the sale date.
For all others, the date on which the release was first available.
If it was posted on a website, the date on which the post was public.
- Age rating
-
The minimum age rating for the release. On most releases, this is specified on the
packaging or on product web pages.
- Notes
-
Anything miscellaneous and useful.
Generally, extras (but not preorder bonuses) and progress information go here.
:SUB:Format
- Resolution
-
Primary/native screen resolution of the game.
- Voiced
-
Indicates whether this release includes voice acting in the VN/ADV parts of the game.
Fully voiced indicates that all characters (usually excluding the protagonist
and some minor characters) are voiced in all scenes. Only ero scenes voiced
speaks for itself, and Partially voiced should be used when there is some voice
acting, but only for the main characters or only in some scenes.
- Animation
-
Whether the game has any animation can be specified with two seperate options: one for
the normal story mode and one for the ero scenes, if the game has any. With Simple
animations, we refer to (usually looping) effects like falling leaves or snow in the
background or animated facial expressions like blinking eyes and a moving mouth.
Fully animated scenes refers to non-looping anime-like scenes. Some games are
entirely like this, others only have a few scenes that are fully animated. Effects like
moving sprites around the screen, basic zooming and shaking background images are not
considered as "animations". Minigames or other gameplay elements are excluded as well,
only the (ADV/VN-like) story parts and ero scenes should be considered.
NOTE: The resolution, voiced and animation fields have no meaning for patches, and
should be left empty for those releases.
Platform
The platforms that the product was released for. Does not include emulated platforms
(e.g. Playstation 2 games on Playstation 3) or WINE. DVD Player refers to games playable
as a normal DVD Video (DVDPG) and should not be confused with the DVD as a medium.
Media
- Blu-ray
-
Blu-ray Disk, typically 30-60GB+. Requires a Blu-ray Drive. Playstation 3 are
normally Blu-ray.
- CD
-
CD-ROM, typically 700MB.
- DVD
-
DVD5, typically 4.5GB, or DVD9, typically 9GB. DVDPG games are DVD.
- Floppy
-
5 1/4" or 3 3/4", no greater than 1.44MB.
- GD
-
Dreamcast games are normally GD disks.
- Internet Download
-
Anything without a physical box, i.e. obtained by downloading it over a network.
- Memory Card
-
Any SD (Secure Digital) Card variant or MMC variant, Compact Flash or "USB Sticks".
The Main difference between this and Cartridge (below) is that Memory Cards are
re-writable (RW).
- Cartridge
-
Compare with Memory Cards (above). Read-only. Famicom (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES),
Game Boy Advanced (GBA) and Nintendo DS use cartridges.
- Nintendo Optical Disk
-
Non-CD or DVD optical disks used by various Nintendo consoles.
- Other
-
Any format not considered to be any of these mentioned should take this media.
However, it should not be used liberally, and it's inclusion may need to be justified.
- UMD
-
Universal Media Disk, typically 2.2GB. Playstation Portable uses this format.
:SUB:Producers
The companies/groups/individuals involved in the development or publishing of
this release. Does not include distributors. The following roles can be selected:
- Developer
-
The producer involved in the creation of the game itself, not necessarily of
this specific release. Keep in mind that producers that have made modifications
to a game but have not made the game itself should NOT be listed as developers.
- Publisher
-
The producer responsible for publishing this specific release. The publisher may have
made modifications to the game (e.g. translating all text or porting to a different
platform), but was not involved in the creation process.
- Both
-
When the release is developed and published by the same producer. This is often
true for doujin games and the first releases of commercial games.
:SUB:Visual novel relations
The visual novels that this release (either partially or fully) covers.